Why Visiting a School Matters More Than Anything Else

For many families, that means stepping through the doors and experiencing the atmosphere first-hand. You notice things no brochure can tell you: the way children greet their teachers, the conversations you overhear in corridors, the warmth of the welcome when you arrive. Facilities matter, of course, but what really counts is how those spaces are being used. A swimming pool on a website is one thing, but seeing children laughing and learning with confidence in the water is quite another.

Not every family, though, has the chance to visit in person. Relocating from overseas, or even balancing busy schedules, can make that difficult. In those cases, the next best step is to connect with the people. Meeting the admissions team online, speaking to academic staff, or joining a virtual tour can still give you a feel for the culture of a school. The key is not just to look at the buildings on a screen, but to listen for the values and philosophy that guide daily life. A good team will talk not only about what facilities they have, but about the opportunities those facilities create for children.

Whether in person or online, parents often tell us that they know quite quickly whether a school feels right. It’s not always about something big, but a collection of small details: the way staff talk about their students, the smiles you see or hear about, the openness to your questions. Schools are communities, and the sense of belonging is something only you can decide.

For children too, visits — whether on site or virtual — can be revealing. Younger children especially tend to react instinctively. They will often tell you straight away if they feel excited or uncertain, and their reactions can help guide the decision.

Abu Dhabi is fortunate to have so many excellent schools, each with different curricula, hours and teaching approaches. That variety is a gift, but it can also feel overwhelming. The best way to cut through it all is to engage directly with the school, either by visiting or connecting online, and focusing on how it feels for your child and your family.

Every parent approaches this choice differently, and there isn’t one perfect school. What matters is finding the place where your child will be happy, safe and inspired, and where you as a family feel you belong.

We always encourage families to see as much as they can, to ask questions and to connect with the people who will be looking after their children. Whether you visit in person or meet us virtually, the important thing is that you take the time to get a true sense of the school. Because once you do, you will know whether it feels right for your child.

What Children Notice First on a School Visit

When families come to visit a school, it’s usually the parents who ask the questions. They want to know about the curriculum, exam results or how the school day is organised. Children, though, often notice very different things and their first impressions can be just as important.

When I ask our students what they remember about their very first visit, their answers are almost never about the buildings. They talk about how the playground looked, the smile of the teacher who said hello or the friends who waved as they walked past. One child told me the best part was seeing that the library had beanbags because it made her feel at home. Another remembered hearing music in the corridor and thinking, “This feels like fun.”

Some even notice the uniform. For a nervous four-year-old, spotting other children in the same colour polo shirt can suddenly make everything feel less scary. It helps them picture themselves as part of the group, wearing the same uniform and lining up with their classmates. Others remember the smell of fresh bread drifting from the canteen or the sound of a whistle calling students out to play. These small details might not appear on a brochure but to a child they are powerful.

Children have a way of sensing the atmosphere straight away. If they see happy faces and hear laughter they feel reassured. If they are welcomed into a classroom, even for a short moment, they begin to imagine themselves belonging there.

Parents often tell us that their child made the decision for them. While they were weighing up the curriculum or the school calendar, their son or daughter simply said, “I want to go here.” That kind of instinct is worth listening to. After all, children will spend hours every day at school and they need to feel excited and comfortable in their new environment.

That is why visits matter. They are not only for parents to meet teachers or see facilities. They give children the chance to experience a school for themselves. And more often than not, it is their smile, their excitement or their simple words after the tour that give families the clearest answer of all.

Because sometimes the best guide to choosing a school is the child who will walk through the gates each morning.